RUKIGA FDC LC V LOSER PETITIONS EC OVER VOTER REGISTERS, DECLARATION FORMS

By Grant Ahumuza

www.mknewslink.com

In Rukiga–

The former Rukiga district LC5 FDC Aspirant Micheal Kwarikunda Mbareba has requested the Chairperson of National Electoral Commission for voters registers for Kamwezi Sub County.

He also requested for six certified copies of declaration forms that were stolen on the voting day of LC5 Chairmanship seat.

Kwarikunda entirely garnered 12, 308 votes, rival of NRM Robert Mbabazi Kakwerere scored 20, 200 votes being declared the winner, but in Kamwezi alone Mbabazi scored a high margin of 12258 votes and yet Kwarikunda garnered only 419 votes.

In a petition dated 10^th Feb.2021, Kwarikunda says that him and his campaign team have observed electoral irregularities and malpractices that were committed by his opponent Robert Mbabazi Kakwerere and his supporters as well as electoral commission officials.

He notes that the irregularities ranged from voter bribery, pre-ticking of ballot papers, ballot stuffing, intimidation of candidates, multiple voting, voting for deceased persons as well as persons who had migrated or were in Diaspora.

Kwarikunda also in a petition, indicates that on the same day of election, before declaration of the winner at the tally center, he was compelled to raise the same issues to the Rukiga district Returning Officer Rebecca Mbabazi, who in reply informed him to go to courts of law for redress as the matter was beyond her.

He added that on 5^th of this Month, he made a formal request to the district returning officer for some election materials including documents to enable him prepare and file the petition so that the grievances can be addressed legally but she further advised Kwarikunda to address the request to the Electoral Commission Chairperson.

Kwarikunda therefore requests the Chairperson of Electoral commission Justice Simon Byabakama to provide certified copies of voters; registers that were used on the same polling day of LC5 Chairpersons in Kamwezi Sub County, certified copies of declaration forms for direct elected woman councilor for Kamwezi and certified copies of declaration forms for district chairpersons for six polling stations which they are missing including Omunkole, Kacucu, Nyakihnga and Bwirambere primary schools polling stations and Nyabunyugu and Kiruhura Church of Uganda polling stations.

Kwarikunda said that the copies will help in building up the already filed case waiting gazette, urging the people of Rukiga to keep calm, focus their efforts on securing their welfare as he follows up the case to its logical conclusion.

The spokesperson of the Electoral Commission Paul Bukenya, confirmed to our reporter that the Electoral commission has received the petition and the chairperson will determine the requests by the applicant.